47 verrucas!!!!

[Sunlight82]

I caught by first verruca 8 years ago when I was very ill whilst pregnant. Since then they have slowly spread over both feet. I saw a chiropodist for 5 year until she basically gave up with them, then I saw a private podiatrist who told me I had 47 and gave me the swift treatment on 4 of the biggest ones which basically microwaves them and was more painful than childbirth). It didn’t work. He told me I needed to be referred to a dermatologist as medication for it was the only thing left. I saw my GP months ago who said they can’t refer for verrucas and sent me to the surgery podiatrist. I’ve just been for that appointment, was in 2 minutes for him to tell me there’s nothing they can do.

I can’t carry on like this! I’m in agony all of the time. They throb 24 hours a day, it’s painful to walk, I can’t exercise or walk any distance. I’ve passed them to everyone in my family despite me being so careful to keep them covered at all times.

What on Earth do I do now? They’ve told me I need to go private but we can’t afford it. I am absolutely desperate

Post this in Sporner Corner, they usually have some good/terrifying advice on this kind of thing.

They'll want photos though.

I've no advice but couldn't read and run.

That sounds awful. Hopefully someone will be along with solid advice.

Could you try a different GP?

Have you tried the home remedies? Apparently nail varnish and/or duct tape starve them of oxygen and clear them up. Scrape off and re apply each day - I'm not talking from personal experience though

I’ve seen good results from duct tape - worth a try at least.

I know this probably sounds unkind but it's worth a shot, the next time something like Embarrasing Bodies is on could you apply? I'm sure you would be a prime candidate and you would get paid specialist treatment

Standard MN advice is duct tape and banana skin. I’ve only used the banana skin and it did work.

Not Embarrassing Bodies, you might have to deal with that awful Dr Christian pillock.

Christ I'm bloody cross that the NHS won't help you!

My first thought was embarrassing bodies too, but obviously that's a big leap.

Be persistent. It's stopping you walking ffs! See every gp in your surgery.

There was a case of severe verrucas on Embarrassing Bodies and it turned out to be a severe immune deficiency IIRC. Might be worth asking for some blood tests.

Bastard things. DD developed one earlier this year and it’s getting bigger and bigger and little satellite verrucas keep developing.

I’ve read up on all sorts of treatments but ultimately it seems to be down to your immune system recognising and fighting them.

I got rid of 3 or 4 persistent ones on my son’s foot with apple cider vinegar. Just a small makeup pad dipped in it and attached with surgical tape overnight. Nightly for about a week to 10 days. Each root tured black and then was ‘drawn out’. Also had him take a few long baths and used a flannel on his softened foot. They just came away. No pain at all. Worth a try.

Apologies for The Fail link but a child with loads of veruccas was on EB a while back and it turned out she had a serious immune system problem - are you otherwise well?
www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-1263370/One-Verruca-sign-little-girl-fighting-life.html

I had bloody loads at one point as well. Paid for treatment, tried freezing, duct tape. Everything. The only thing all that seemed to do was make them more painful.
Then I stopped trying.

Within a year they cleared themselves up and never returned so I firmly believe what @Haworthia says.

I had similar, it was hell, the only thing that worked for me was the apple cider vinegar thing. I had them for probably ten years before I found out about that and had exhausted everything or so I thought. I had them all over my hands and under my finger nails too. Haven’t had another one since!

I have tried every treatment known to man. I had my feet duct taped constantly for 6 months!! Nothing! Tried every over the counter remedy. They are so painful now I can’t bear to treat them.

Don’t think I could bear the embarrassment of being on tv with them.

I have been told to heat some metal until burning hot and then stand on it as long as I can until my skin is burnt on my feet. Sounds like I might end up in the burns unit if I try that though.

I remember the case from Embarrassing Bodies. I think that child had to undergo chemo and a bone marrow transplant.

I’m sure you’ve tried all the home remedies but I used banana peel and duct tape on mine over night every night for a week and they disappeared. I’d had them for approx three years, I always thought they’d just naturally disappear but nope. The shop bought treatments did nothing so I just did that instead and it worked.

Apple cider vinegar. Apple cider vinegar is one of the more popular home remedies for warts and there are several ways to use it. One common method is to soak a cotton ball with apple cider vinegar, apply it to the wart and cover it with a band aid. This is done twice a day until the wart falls off.

Banana peels. Small pieces of banana peel are applied to the wart with the fleshy side down, and are then covered up with medical tape. The banana peel can be left on the wart overnight or around the clock, but needs changed daily.
Garlic. With this treatment, freshly cut pieces of garlic are rubbed into the wart to coat it with garlic juice. The garlic pieces are then applied to the wart with the cut side down and covered with medical tape. Apply each night and remove in the morning; repeat for up to three weeks.

Oil-rich plants and herbs. Lemon oil and tea tree oil are sometimes used as a home remedy for warts. Another herbal remedy is podophyllum, a plant extract that has toxic properties that is believed to kill the wart tissue. Podophyllum should not be used by women who are pregnant or nursing.

I have tried to apple cider vinegar in the past. It’s difficult to use duct tape now though as I have so many! I’d have to be completely taped up to my ankle, in between every toe!

www.nhs.uk/conditions/warts-and-verrucas/

Treatment from a GP

Your GP may be able to freeze a wart or verruca so it falls off a few weeks later. Sometimes it takes a few sessions.

Check with your GP if the NHS pays for this treatment in your area.

If treatment hasn't worked or you have a wart on your face, your GP might refer you to a skin specialist. Other treatments include minor surgery and treatment with laser or light.
How to stop warts and verrucas spreading

Warts and verrucas are caused by a virus. They can be spread to other people from contaminated surfaces or through close skin contact. You're more likely to spread a wart or verruca if your skin is wet or damaged.

It can take months for a wart or verruca to appear after contact with the virus.

I know this may not go down well, but I had to use antibiotics years and years ago to sort out a problem- it also sorted out my verrucas too.

The NHS will just see this as cosmetic when it's really not clearly from the OP.

OP I would write a letter about how this is affecting your quality of life and ability to be an active participant in activities of daily living, how they are effecting your mobility and you worry about losing your independence.

I would then fill in an Individual Funding Request to NHS England which your doctor will need to support you with by saying he thinks the treatment will benefit you

Info here - www.england.nhs.uk/publication/individual-funding-requests-for-specialised-services-a-guide-for-patients/

Form here- www.england.nhs.uk/publication/specialised-services-individual-funding-requests/

I had loads on my feet as a kid, they were super painful.

I remember digging them out and it being super painful.

Not advice, can't remember how I got rid of them

In my teens i had over 90. Clear nail varnish and a nail file, the duct tape over night, repeatedly, most nights, for close to a month, got rid of them all.

Private chiropody shouldn't have a problem with a bunch of verrucas unless there's something else at play. Private chiropody comes in a wide spectrum of quality in my experience. I'd look for another private chiropodist but one with the very best reviews and I've a theory (just a theory mind, based on outcomes over the years) that newer practices can have fresher acids etc.

I remember that case too, Haworthia

There must be a reason why this is happening,OP. 47 verrucas across both feet isn't normal. Your GP needs to refer you to someone like a consultant physican who could assess your whole physical state.

Disclaimer...no medical qualifications but I spent too many years being fobbed off before being diagnosed with Lupus (thankfully no longer active).